The Journey

Monday, September 21, 2009

I resigned from my previous job in Diagonal Consulting in June and served around 1.5 months notice (opted to leave early). Last day in Diagonal Consulting was on 12th August and the nice people in the office threw a farewell party for me at the California Pizza Kitchen @ KLCC. It wasn't a very long period of time I worked in Diagonal Consulting, only 1 year and 9 months. There were so much things that I learnt...a little bit on the technical skill but majority were how to deal with people. I saw the ugly sides of a few people but I got to know many of the wonderful people that I would call them as friends now rather than ex-colleagues. There were many things that I left behind or chose not to remember after I stepped out from the level 63 office. But there were many fond memories that I brought along with me which I'm going to blog about.

The once-happening Basis team - Chris, Albert, Jacky, Fadhil, Izzuddin, Tarmizee, Yew Ming and Amir. You guys are the best and the most funny people that I ever worked with.I'm missing :-- the moment we had a non-stop laugh on Albert's 'Yes, please!' jokes.- the time we spent together in making the short video clip for the Mc'Donald's contest.- the time we laughed at Danny's 'Ses' and the 'tak mau bawang' jokes- the first few weeks I joined the company when we all thought Chris was a little bit (just lil bit, Chris) abnormal. He used to talk to himself a lot and there was one time he talked to a bird at the other side of the window (OMG!)- the time we all chat in MSN and laughed at the same time, though we were just sitting face-to-face- the days that were extremely wonderful knowing that Bala will not be coming inFriends from other teams - Patrick, Phoebe, Wendy, Usha, Vicky, Kai Rou, K Wai Ling, Foong, Wai Loon, Choon Yew and etc. I got to know some of you better in the company trip to Perhentian Island on my last few days in the company. A special thank you note to Patrick. Without him, this post will not exist and I wonder how long more do I need to stay in Diagonal. Thanks a lot man! I enjoyed myself so much in the Perhentian Island trip and a big clap to the committee for making it happened. I'm not good in expressing my feeling but you guys are great! We did not work together most of the time as Basis is always the lone-ranger, but we did get to know each other during the lunch sessions, short conversations in the pantry, the company events like the Caribbean's Night, pot luck sessions and the trip to Perhentian Island. Thank you so much to all of you and I'm glad that you guys are part of the sweet memories that I had in my stay at Diagonal Consulting.

Last but not least, thanks Chris and Fadhil for posing my so-called trademark. Please remember this parti pembangkang and remember to update me with all the gossips in the office.

We didn't plan anything to do for the day as our flight was to depart at 12:50pm local time. After having breakfast at the hotel, we changed to our swimwear and utilized one of the facility provided by the hotel.

The airport transfer cab came around 10:30am and it took about 45 minutes from Ao Nang to the Krabi International Airport. The Krabi International Airport is a very small airport and there is nothing to shop there. Just a small store selling Phuket souvenirs. Yes, you saw it correctly...you can get Phuket souvenirs from Krabi Airport but you can't Krabi souvenirs in Krabi Airport...funny huh? We ended up buying a Phuket fridge magnet instead. Arrived LCCT at around 3pm and headed back to home right after.

LKC & LPC @ Krabi La PlayaI always have very hard feeling on the last day of my holiday...don't know when will I be back again, or will I ever go back again?LKC & LPC @ KrabiCaptured these in the flightThe Golden Palm Tree Water Villas @ Sepang Gold Coast

The end of our memorable Krabi trip. Though the posts came a little bit late, I hope this serves as a guide to those who will be heading to Krabi in the near future. Unsure when will I be back again or will I ever return? I doubt ... not because I don't like Krabi, I like it very much. But I wish to visit other places that I yet to explore.

Stay tuned for my next trip to Palace of the Golden Horses on my birthday, Macao + China trip in August, as well as a short trip to Pulau Pangkor on LKC's birthday.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

24th April 2009We were having very bad body ache after the speed boat ride that we had yesterday. We decided to have a slow and relax trip instead and chose an Elephant ride tour.I have already forgotten how much we paid for this tour (too long ago-lah), but if I remember it correctly, we paid around 1200baht per person for this 1 day trip.Started the day with breakfast at the hotel again. At around 9am, there came a Toyota Vios to pick us up from the hotel lobby. This elephant ride tour was not a famous day tour I guess. There were only 4 tourists for this tour, including LKC and I. We shared the same car with a couple, an 'angmoh' and a Negro.The first stop was the Elephant Trekking site. Each couple was 'assigned' to ride an elephant. And this is the elephant which we rode on for our 1 hour trekking. Well done elephant...sorry to you that you had to carry 2 fatty-bum-bum.

There were not many things to do in this 1 hour ride except for these...

CamwhoringTaking photos of the elephant in frontShocking to see the elephant's output...and found out that the elephant could do 2 businesses at the same time...and laughing non-stop when looking at the elephant's fifth legSightseeing...rubber dripping out from the treeMore sightseeing...bamboo trees, it reminds me of China as I always have this chain, bamboo --> panda --> China

At one point, the elephant's 'driver' stopped and helped us to take photos. He was a professional photographer I tell, although he is like a mid 40 year-old Pak Cik working in a farm. I passed my baby (DSLR) to him and he helped us to capture these photos, without the live-view, which was to my surprise...3 of us - LKC, me and the elephant are completely in the photos, without our head being cut off...ok, lame joke.

See...he's good in taking photo right?Another perfect picture

He asked LKC to become the Tarzan for 5 minutes and LKC sat on the elephant's neck while I sat behind.

For the short 5 minutes, the Tarzan aka LKC became my drebar while I was the queen sitting behind. OK, another saying, behind every success man (yet to success man is more appropriate), there is always a lady (that's me) supporting him behind.

I did not want to miss this special experience. So I swapped the place with LKC and became Jane for 5 minutes as well. It was indeed a very special and memorable experience when riding an elephant, especially when you were sitting in front.

Me...being Jane

We were back to the 'station' after an hour ride and bought a basket of bananas for 50 baht to treat the elephant which did the hard work for carrying us for the past 1 hour. The elephant was so cute, when the trainer said 'khob-kun-Ka' (thank you in Thai), the elephant bended its knees...so cute. I like the elephant so much and missing it while I'm typing this.

After the elephant trekking, we headed to the Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Seua). According to here, the Tiger Cave takes its name from a stone formation nearby which resembles a tiger's claw.

The path leading to the hill top

Before we climbed the 1237 stepsA very steep stair

The steps were steep and narrow. We had to walk side way (like a crab) when climbing the steps and our stamina was so bad. We decided to call out after we arrived at 269th steps.

The view from 269th step. I'm sure the view will be so much better at the top of the hill.Kuan Yin in a pagodaBought some blue joss sticks (blue is for Friday) for prayingTemple in the cave...reminds of our famous Sam Poh Tong in IpohStill under construction temple...it will all be ready the next time we visit Krabi (if we ever return)Wow...Buddha on a jetplane

It was almost lunch time when we headed to the next destination; The Emerald Pool. We had our lunch at the Rim Tan Restaurant nearby the Emerald Pool. Didn't manage to capture the meal that we had as we were sharing the dishes with the other couple. We had the local tom yum seafood, omelet, fried vegie and etc for lunch. It was included in the tour package.

We had to walk like 15-20 minutes before reaching the Emerald Pool. Along the way, we saw ...

Clear water flowing along the small valleyBamboo trees (again) along the wayThank God, the road wasn't steepFinally... arrived at the Emerald PoolNothing much to do at the pool except taking photos and soaking in the pool

We spent about an hour at the Emerald Pool and headed to the next and the final destination of the trip, which is the Hot Spring. After soaking in the cold Emerald Pool, the water at the Hot Spring was extremely hot. No doubt the water temperature was around 40 over degree Celsius. We didn't find it too hot after soaking in the water for 5 minutes. It was very relaxing indeed. LKC did not enjoy as much as I did. He found it too hot. Well, guys always do not know how to enjoy what is good for the health. We were told not to stay in the warm water for too long especially for those with high blood pressure (LKC is one of them). We were there for about 30 minutes and left after drying up ourselves.

At the Hot Spring

Arrived at the hotel around 4pm and dozed off after taking shower. It was time for dinner and we went back to the place we had our dinner on the first night. We settled down at Sala Bua & Lo Spuntino restaurant. It's a Thai cum Italian restaurant under one roof.

Appetizers, compliments from the restaurant. I didn't have the chance to try it as I was busy taking photos. When I turned around, the plate was gone *sob**sob*Before our dinner...how nice to have dinner by the seaside witnessing the sun setThe beautiful sun set

For dinner, we had seafood dinner. We ordered ...

Mussels cooked with basil leaves...I like this dish so much that I was so happy to see it in the menu. My sis-in-law (a Thai girl, in case you don't know) used to prepare this dish when dad bought some mussels home from the pasar malam and I was deeply in love with it.Grilled giant prawns (each prawn cost around 150 baht, approx RM15)Grilled crabs. The crabs were fresh and the meat was so succulent.Tom yum seafood. Another tom yum with the omphh...why can't we find it in Malaysia?A plate of fried mixed vegetables to complete the mealA table full of seafood

The bill for the meal was less than 800 baht (if I'm not mistaken). It was a very yummylicious and it was worth every penny that we paid.After dinner, we walked along the shops along Ao Nang Beach and bought some souvenirs home. I had another round of full body massage. This time I chose the oil massage instead, and it was only 300 baht for 1 hour. After the massage, it was time for some supper. We went to the Grand Italia Gelato Shop for some sugarfree (or was it organic) ice-cream. We ordered a cup of Rum N Raisin ice cream to share and a glass of tangerine juice. No credits to be given to the ice-cream as it was too sweet for our liking. The tangerine juice deserves a mention and the limelight. It taste somewhat similar to the mandarin oranges we have on CNY and the little mini mandarins that comes in a big bag. We called off the night after drinking the cheap beers and eating the snack in the hotel.